A year ago we weren't sure the meal program would last through monsoon. Today I'm writing from the Bandarban school office with the attendance logs on the desk next to me — and they tell the story better than I can.
What changed
Before the program, the lean season (September through November) would pull fifteen to twenty of our students out of class every week for a day or two at a time, helping their parents harvest or bringing younger siblings to work sites. That number is down to two.
The logs aren't the whole story, though. Teachers tell me something subtler is happening: kids who used to show up but check out by mid-morning are now still present at the chalkboard at 1pm. A hot meal at 11:30 turns out to be a remarkably effective learning intervention.
What's next
We're extending the program to Khagrachari for the 2026 academic year. Same menu, same cook-ratio, same sourcing — just more kitchens. If you want to underwrite a specific school-week of meals, there's a line item on the donate page.